The journalists of Chattorogram received cheques as assistance promised by the Prime Minister. Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud handed over cheques to 136 journalists at the Chittagong Press Club auditorium on Friday afternoon.
During this time, 25 journalists from Chittagong were given regular assistance cheques by the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust.
Speaking as the chief guest at the cheque distribution function organized by the Chittagong Journalists Union, the Information Minister said that when corona was in turmoil all over the world, the Prime Minister had started relief activities for the 20 percent poor working people besides providing physical protection to the people.
Many experts have given different opinions about corona. But everyone's opinion has been proved wrong.
Hasan Mahmud said not only the government but also the Awami League as a political party has provided relief of Tk 1.25 crore to people. Many ministers-MPs are affected. The central 3 leaders of the party have died; they were involved in relief activities.
The information minister said the world's richest nations were not able to harness any of their economic prosperity and military might in the face of corona. The tiny virus has made those who have spent huge sums of money fighting each other helpless. We need to think deeply whether we will increase military spending or increase human security spending.
Information minister said that the situation in Bangladesh was better than that of Europe, America and neighboring countries. He said many said a lot. No country in the world was ready to deal with corona. China did not admit it at first. We are dealing with limited capacity. Our mortality rate is lower than that of India and Pakistan.
Regarding assistance to journalists, the minister said that initially Tk 2.31 crore was allocated from the welfare trust for corona assistance. Later another sum of Tk 2 crore was allocated. Tk 4.31 crore has now been allocated to assist journalists. The first phase is being distributed at a cost of Tk 1.5 crore. The rest of the money will be distributed later.
President of Chittagong Journalists Union Mohammad Ali presided over the function while General Secretary Md. Shamsul Islam conducted the cheque distribution function.
Vice President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Riaz Haider Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Press Club Alhaj Ali Abbas, President of Dhaka Journalists Union Quddus Afrad, Chittagong Press Club General Secretary Chowdhury Farid, and BFUJ Joint Secretary General Mohsin Kazi spoke on the occasion.